Full Breakdown
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pressures Iowa Libertarians to Drop Out
6/26/2026, 10:24:40 PM
Kennedy’s Lobbying of Iowa Libertarian Candidates
In early June 2024, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called Libertarian congressional hopefuls Rick Stewart (Iowa District 2) and Marco Battaglia (District 3). In a 12-minute June 11 call, Kennedy urged Stewart to abandon his “symbolic run” and negotiate an “agreement” with the Republican opponent, warning that a Libertarian could draw 2–3 percent of the vote from the GOP. Stewart recorded the conversation and said he would not withdraw.
Context: HHS Role, Hatch Act, Election Stakes, and Potential Impact
Kennedy, a former independent presidential candidate who later endorsed Donald Trump, was appointed HHS secretary in the Trump administration. The Hatch Act bars federal employees from using official authority to influence elections. House Democrats say the outreach could have helped Republicans preserve marginal vote shares in the contested Iowa districts, thereby affecting the House majority. They have announced a probe into possible Hatch Act violations and any broader plan to curtail vaccine programs if Democrats win the House.
Official Statements & Responses
The White House and HHS declined to comment on the calls or any direction from Trump officials. House Democratic leaders issued a statement pledging a formal investigation into alleged Hatch Act breaches and coordination with Republican operatives.
Criticism & Opposition
Legal scholars contend Kennedy’s outreach may violate the Hatch Act by using his cabinet authority for electoral gain. Libertarian activists denounced the effort as a betrayal of third-party values after Kennedy abandoned his own independent presidential bid.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources verify Kennedy’s calls to Stewart and Battaglia, but the White House has not confirmed whether James Blair explicitly instructed the outreach. The number of other Libertarian candidates contacted and any promises offered remain unknown.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I can’t go into specifics because there’s legal prohibitions about that,” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary (June 11 call)
- “If it’s something that you want to talk about, you know, you and I can talk about specifics.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (June 11 call)
- “I don’t want to be fighting subpoenas for the next two years of improving America’s health,” — Rick Stewart (June 11 call)
- “They want to get me out because I might pick up 2 or 3 percent — and if I pick up 2 or 3 percent, they think it’ll come out of the Republican pocket.” — Rick Stewart (June 11 call)
What’s Next
House Democrats plan to issue subpoenas and open a formal inquiry into the alleged Hatch Act breach. Additional recordings or testimonies may surface as the 2024 midterms near, potentially influencing legal outcomes and the competitive landscape in Iowa’s congressional races.
